Hi,cost of materials escape the notice of a lot of people. One family member asked for a rather complicated design, I said yes but you would have to pay for fabric,we worked out the cost and the reply was "I could get one at a cheap shop for a fraction of that".They were more than a little offended when I told them to do just that.

I can't imagine why anyone would say anything negative about any quilt being showed to them by someone. That someone apparently is very proud of her work and is showing it because it makes her happy. No matter how the quilt looks, it is the best she can do and she is proud of it.

On another note, I show my quilts here on the board. The only other time anyone sees my quilts is when they come to my home and look around. I find that there are two questions most of the time. How long did it take you and How much is it? lol...I already know, when I hear, how much is it, what my answer could be but I say. I have no idea. The other question on how long it took me? I point to my Cinco de Mayo and I say, that one took 400 hours and the best price on that one is 12,000. After that I don't get questioned on prices or time anymore.

I don't try to sell my quilts. I could care less. They are in my collection. People who value my work just tell me to wrap it up and give them a bill, they know the worth. So I don't get hairy about anything, I just glide along lol.

Would anyone expect a cabinet maker - or a plumber- or an electrician - to throw in the parts "for free"?

i tell the cost of the fabric to people who want me to make a quilt for them because i love them. i do love them, but that does not mean i have $200+ to make a quilt top for their kingsize bed. my ddil has some strange ideas about sewing and what goes into making a quilt. i know she appreciates what i make for her family, but she just doesn't get that quilts are not free, and not everyone can make a good (or better) quilt.

love all these comments. i'm always speechless when some one tells me they saw the same one at Walmart. Oh really???? I've made over 350 quilts and will continue to make them but if you don't like it don't look. most people saw Ahhhhh, it's so pretty. that's good enough for me. WHen I see my son get choked up over his quilt I made him for his birthday, 25th, that was thank you enough for me. I did explain what all the symbolicmeanings were,he loved it.

I get my thrill from using up cycled material as much as possible. I'm on a jeans quilt kick now. Last winter' project was a string quilt of (synthetic) plaid shirt factory cut-aways sewn to backing squares cut from a quilted, king sized bed skirt. When I show these quilts I enjoy explaining how they were made in the old-fashioned utility quilt style. I do new fabric quilts, too, but my real love is "make-do." I have a box of deconstructed men's shirts a la Bonnie Hunter waiting. Should I explain to those who see the result that I get lots of pleasure cuttin' up old clothes?

Sometimes my thrill is also in making something with as little out of pocket expense as possible.

However - if selling a quilt - I still think it is reasonable to ask for the cost of replacing the materials used.